USB Keys

Over the years, dozens of software companies have created programs that lock down certain aspects of a computer. For parents, this has helped control when and how their children use the Internet, use chat and instant messaging programs, and access certain files or folders on a family computer. Like so many other computer controls, use of this software often leads to a false sense of security. Software needs to be updated, passwords can be cracked, and a search on the Internet can yield dozens of workarounds for any particular PC control software package.

Over the years, dozens of software companies have created programs that lock down certain aspects of a computer. For parents, this has helped control when and how their children use the Internet, use chat and instant messaging programs, and access certain files or folders on a family computer. Like so many other computer controls, use of this software often leads to a false sense of security. Software needs to be updated, passwords can be cracked, and a search on the Internet can yield dozens of workarounds for any particular PC control software package.

The emergence of USB ports on a computer has helped to give parents another option in this battle. USB ports are now found on every computer sold in the past few years. They are the inch slot that is found in the back of the computer (usually near the keyboard and mouse inputs) and nowadays, in the front as well. Using USB technology, hardware manufacturers are creating nifty little peripherals that will perform the same tasks as the control software.

What makes this piece of hardware so much better than its software counterparts is that it acts more or less like a key. If a parent does not wish their child to access the Internet when they are not home, they simply remove the USB device and that restricts Internet software. If a child needs to finish homework before instant messaging their friends, the key can be removed and replaced at the parents’ discretion.

As technology advances, the customization of these devices has grown in capabilities as well. The user can pretty much set whatever policies they choose. Based on these policies, entire programs, or just certain folders on the computer are rendered useless unless the USB key is in place.

It is important to note that as soon as a security device is brought to the market, there are hundreds of people probing for ways to go around it. What makes this more effective is that it is always harder to replicate a hardware driven key than it is to crack a software key.